Patrick Henry (1736 - 1799)

Essential Questions

  1. Patrick_henry_new.jpg
    Patrick Henry
    How did Patrick Henry influence American History?
  2. What were Henry's major arguments that he used in his famous speech "Give me liberty or give me death"?
  3. Why did he propose to resolve the Virginia Stamp Act?

Accomplishments and facts

  • Patrick Henry was born in Hanover County, Virginia on May 29, 1736
  • Failed as farmer and storekeeper
  • Won fame in the Parsons' Case where he defended the right of colonies to set the tobacco price, that were paid to clergy for their services, against the British government
  • Proposed the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions as a member of the House of Burgesses in 1765
  • Admitted to the Bar of the General Court in Virginia in 1769
  • Elected to the Continental Congress in 1774
  • His speech "Give me liberty or give me death" persuaded the American to go on war against the British and earned him the title "Orator of Liberty"
  • Virginia Militia Leader in 1775
  • Governor of Virginia from 1776 - 1778 and in 1784
  • Supported state rights and feared a too-powerful government
  • Helped to establish the Bill of Rights
  • Declined being Secretary of State in 1795
  • Was a participant in the founding of America
  • Was elected the House of Delegates but died three month before on June 6, 1799

Links

http://www.redhill.org/biography_detailed.html
http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/henry.shtml

Work Cited


“Give me Liberty or Give me Death.” A Chronology of US Historical Documents . 10 Mar. 2006. The University of Oklahoma . 24 Oct. 2007 <[[http://www.law.ou.edu/‌ushistory/‌henry.shtml%3E.|http://www.law.ou.edu/‌ushistory/‌henry.shtml>.]]

“Patrick Henry .” Colonial Williamsburg . The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation . 24 Oct. 2007 <[[http://www.history.org/‌Almanack/‌people/‌bios/‌biohen.cfm%3E.|http://www.history.org/‌Almanack/‌people/‌bios/‌biohen.cfm>.]]

“Patrick Henry.” Freedom: A history of the US. 24 Oct. 2007 <[[http://www.pbs.org/‌wnet/‌historyofus/‌web01/‌features/‌bio/‌B06.html%3E.|http://www.pbs.org/‌wnet/‌historyofus/‌web01/‌features/‌bio/‌B06.html>.]]

“Patrick Henry.” Related Information . 2007. Independent Hall Association . 24 Oct. 2007 <[[http://ushistory.org/‌declaration/‌related/‌henry.htm%3E.|http://ushistory.org/‌declaration/‌related/‌henry.htm>.]]

Patrick Henry Quotes. 24 Oct. 2007 <[[http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/‌quotes_by/‌patrick+henry%3E.|http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/‌quotes_by/‌patrick+henry>.]]

Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act. 24 Oct. 2007 http://www.constitution.org/‌bcp/‌vir_res1765.htm.